Horse lovers will go anywhere to ride a horse or watch an equestrian sporting event. From polo played on the ice in Switzerland to wine country polo in Argentina or on horseback in Hawaii, polo is the sport of kings, played fast and furious. Did you know that this equine sport originated in Persia with the roots of polo dating back to over 2,500 years ago? Sports fans have a chance to watch beach polo hit the sand in Dubai this April for the Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup Dubai.
How to watch a polo match
I’m not a football fan, and I have no idea about the rules of the game, but I like a good tailgate party with friends! The same can be said of a polo match. They are fun to watch, but equestrians and non-riders alike don’t always know how the game is played. I had a chance to watch my first polo match in Menlo Park, California when the Menlo Polo Club hosted an exhibition match to raise funds for Polo for Lyme (disease). This fashionable horseback riding event is where I learned how to watch a polo match and understand the terminology of the fast-paced equestrian event. I also got to wear a fancy hat and wander around on the grass, stomping divots back into the ground that the horse hooves had created.
Dubai horseback riding holiday
While I have yet to travel to Dubai, if you find yourself in the area, go watch the Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup. After all, the shores of Dubai and the UAE are where Beach Polo was first invented. Drop me a line or leave a comment below and let me know what you thought of beach polo.
As I was born and raised in California, my mind immediately thinks of beach volleyball or water polo; not beach polo. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll have a chance to go on a horseback riding vacation in Dubai and watch a game of beach polo? What a trip that would be!
If You Go:
Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup Dubai
Have you traveled to Dubai? Learn more about the beach polo cup on Twitter @BeachPoloCup.
Follow me on Twitter @Nancydbrown and @Ridinghorseback for all things related to travel and horseback riding vacations.
Article by Nancy D. Brown. Photos provided.
Never seen polo never been to Dubai but after reading this, I’m guessing that would be the place to do it.
@Maria
I’d like to visit Dubai and I think a beach polo match would be a good introduction to Dubai. I hope you get to experience a polo match some day!